More than 900 people were killed across Afghanistan as the country suffered from one of its harshest ever winters in 2008. Below freezing temperatures and bitter snow storms gripped the nation since the onset of winter in mid December. At its peak temperatures in the region fell to -22C (-8F); the coldest in more than 30 years. Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, which reached 2 meters (79 inches) deep in some places.

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 14, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 21, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap affected the delivery of goods Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 13, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

UN Toyota Land Cruisers driving through and mud and snow in Maymana, Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 14, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

People walking through the snow in Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 14, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 21, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 21, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

An Afghan woman cares for her dying sheep in the village of Qasabach Qala, Faryab Province, Northwest Afghanistan on Friday 15th February, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

A young Afghan boy with his dead cattle in the village of Qasabach Qala, Faryab Province, Northwest Afghanistan on Friday 15th February, 2008.

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 18, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

A young Afghan boy in the village of Qasabach Qala, Faryab Province, Northwest Afghanistan on Friday 15th February, 2008.

An elderly Afghan man collects winterised aid from a distribution by ACTED to a displacement camp near Pul i Khumri, Baghlan Province, Afghanistan, February 13, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Afghan women collect winterised aid from a distribution point by ACTED in a displacement camp near Pul i Khumri, Baghlan Province, Afghanistan, February 13, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 18, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 18, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 26, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 18, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

More than 900 people were killed across Afghanistan as the country suffered from one of its harshest ever winters in 2008. Below freezing temperatures and bitter snow storms gripped the nation since the onset of winter in mid December. At its peak temperatures in the region fell to -22C (-8F); the coldest in more than 30 years. Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, which reached 2 meters (79 inches) deep in some places.

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 14, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 21, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap affected the delivery of goods Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 13, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

UN Toyota Land Cruisers driving through and mud and snow in Maymana, Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 14, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

People walking through the snow in Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 14, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 21, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 21, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

An Afghan woman cares for her dying sheep in the village of Qasabach Qala, Faryab Province, Northwest Afghanistan on Friday 15th February, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

A young Afghan boy with his dead cattle in the village of Qasabach Qala, Faryab Province, Northwest Afghanistan on Friday 15th February, 2008.

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 18, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

A young Afghan boy in the village of Qasabach Qala, Faryab Province, Northwest Afghanistan on Friday 15th February, 2008.

An elderly Afghan man collects winterised aid from a distribution by ACTED to a displacement camp near Pul i Khumri, Baghlan Province, Afghanistan, February 13, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Afghan women collect winterised aid from a distribution point by ACTED in a displacement camp near Pul i Khumri, Baghlan Province, Afghanistan, February 13, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 18, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 18, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 26, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)

Nearly half the villages in western Afghanistan had been cut off from the major cities due to heavy snowfall, the cold snap hit the agricultural and livestock industry hard with more than 130,000 cattle perishing in the freezing temperatures Faryab Province, Afghanistan, February 18, 2008. (Photo/Mark Pearson)